On the NFL

Everyone wants a piece of Vikings' Peterson

October 15, 2008|By Dan Pompei

MINNEAPOLIS — The kids at Eagan High School last week just wanted to touch the shoulder of the man who has been called "Purple Jesus." They yelled his name, told him he is their fantasy football star, begged for an autograph and wished him well.

Many of them were wearing those $75 shirts with No. 28 on the back, as were many on Sunday in the Metrodome. Those jerseys have sold like lawn and leaf bags on a pleasant autumn weekend.

Everyone, it seems, wants more of Adrian Peterson in his second year. In his first season, he was the offensive rookie of the year, was voted to the Pro Bowl and won the game's most valuable player award, finished second in the NFL in rushing yards with 1,341 and set the single-game rushing record with 296 yards against the Chargers.

Opposing defenses want more of him. They have stacked the box with more men and in more ways than Peterson ever dreamed. If the Bears don't have a death wish, they will do it Sunday at Soldier Field.

Vikings coaches asked for more of him, expanding his role and involving him more as a receiver. They have used him in tandem with halfback Chester Taylor.

Teammates have expected more leadership from him. The man they call "A-Robot" is a focal point in the locker room as well as in the offense.

Madison Avenue wants a bigger piece of him. In the off-season, Peterson endorsed Nike, Muscle Milk, ESPN and Vitamin Water. He was part of the NFL's Play 60 campaign. He did photo shoots for GQ and Muscle and Fitness.

Even Peterson wants more from himself. His stated goal is to rush for 2,000 yards and win the most valuable player award.

Giving more to everyone while not compromising what made him special has been Peterson's challenge.

Meeting expectations

The Vikings have just beaten the Lions. No one is left in the Vikings' locker room except for a couple of men on clean-up duty, and a stray suit or two.

The locker room is in ruins, like many defenses when Peterson is done with them. The floor is covered with tape cut from players' ankles and wrists, gum and candy wrappers, Gatorade bottles, Gameday programs, eye black stickers and Breathe Right nasal strips.

Peterson pulls up a stool in a quiet corner of the locker room and, over a Kit Kat bar, talks about where 20 NFL games have left him.

"Everything that has happened makes you wonder," Peterson says with a smile and a direct look in the eye. "But it's all about what you do on the field."

This year, the element of surprise no longer is helping Peterson. He said defenses have been more intent on shutting down the Vikings' running game, though in recent weeks the Vikings' ability to throw downfield has forced some safeties to be a little less aggressive in their alignments.

His 563 rushing yards rank third in the NFL, and you get the feeling his best is yet to come. He says he is stronger and faster than he was a year ago. In the off-season, he dropped his body-fat percentage from 7 to 5, and replaced the fat with muscle.

Though he was pulled in more directions than ever, Peterson never lost focus. Teammates marveled at how hard he worked.

Vikings coach Brad Childress and general manager Rick Spielman worked with 10 Sports Marketing to make sure Peterson's promotional endeavors were scheduled around the Vikings' off-season activities. In fact, Peterson never left town during the Vikings' off-season practice sessions.

What's more, marketing agent Bill Henkel of 10 Sports said Peterson turned down more than a dozen opportunities because they would have been too time consuming.

"If I'm not doing things I have to do to be a better player, the marketing stuff doesn't matter," Peterson said. "So first things first."

There is pressure on Peterson to live up to his own reputation. But he doesn't think of it as pressure.

"It's how you handle it," he said. "I've always been the kind of person who wants to do the best for me and my team. Don't worry about what the fans say or anybody else. Just play my hardest and that's all anybody can ask for."

And Peterson believes he does not have to break records to accomplish goals.

"If being successful is rushing for 900 yards and my team makes the playoffs and wins the championship game, that's a successful season," he said.

"But it's always the team first. Individual goals, they'll come."

With Peterson, there seems to be little doubt those individual goals will come.

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dpompei@tribune.com

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